International community reacts to events in Georgia
Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly, Ambassador of Norway to Georgia Helene Sand Andresen and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde have expressed their concerns via Twitter earlier today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The international community continues to react to the arrest of United National Movement leader Nika Melia earlier today during a special operation of UNM party offices.
In his post Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly said that 'all friends of Georgian democracy should rally around those standing up for it now'.
All friends of Georgian democracy should rally around those standing up for it now. It’s up to the government to deescalate the situation and release Melia immediately. https://t.co/LO5HdV3lVZ
— Ian Kelly (@ikelly731) February 23, 2021
Ambassador of Norway to Georgia Helene Sand Andresen urged the government and opposition to search for ways to calm the situation.
Forceful detention of ???????? opposition leader an unwelcome escalation. Urge Government and opposition to search for ways to calm the situation and find way back to political dialogue. Georgia now needs all political forces to put national interest first and stay on democratic path.
— Helene Sand Andresen (@SandAndresen) February 23, 2021
Swedish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde called on 'all sides to immediately de-escalate the situation.’
Following with concern the latest events in #Tbilisi. As @OSCE CiO, I repeat my call on all sides to immediately de-escalate the situation, resume dialogue and act with full respect of OSCE commitments to safeguard the progress the country has made. #OSCE2021SWE
— Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) February 23, 2021
Opposition parties and their supporters have blocked off central Rustaveli Avenue earlier today, following the recent arrest of the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Nika Melia.Melia, who is charged with incitement to violence during the June protests in Tbilisi back in 2019, has been arrested for refusal to post bail.
EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell has responded to a special forces storm of the United National Movement office this morning to arrest its chair Nika Melia and said that 'all sides need to demonstrate responsibility and have the best interest of the country and the Georgian people at heart' in his post on Twitter.
The US Embassy in Georgia has responded to the arrest of the United National Movement leader Nika Melia and a special operation which stormed the UNM office this morning and stated that 'Georgia has moved backward on its path toward becoming a stronger democracy in the Euro-Atlantic family of nations'.
Foreign diplomats and politicians have expressed concern over the special operation of Georgian police which stormed the United National Movement office this morning to arrest its chair Nika Melia.